Bath-tub



(NoModeL) I T. McK. ARMSTRONG. Bath Tub.

No. 230.684. Patented Aug. 3,1880.

. hamuw/ mwm N PETER$ PHDTO-UTHDGRAPNER, WASHINGTON. D. C,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS MGKEEARMSTRONG, OF ROXANA, MICHIGAN.

BATH-TUB.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 230,684, dated August 3, 1880, I

' Application filed June 7,1880. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: I

Be-it known that I, THOMAS MGK. ARM- STRONG, of Roxana, in the county of Eaton and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bath-Tubs; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use it, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in bath-tubs and it consists in making the frame in two separate and distinct parts, which are hinged together at theirinner ends, and which parts are provided at their outer ends with folding legs and braces, whereby the tub can be folded up and put away, as will be more fully described hereinafter.

The object of my invention is to provide a bath which can be readily used by the bedside in bathing sick persons, and which, after having been used, can be readily folded up, so as to be easily moved around, and which will 2 5 occupy but very little room when folded.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my invention when ready for use. Fig. 2 is a similar view, showing the tub folded up. Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-section of the same.

0 A A represent the two parts of the frame, which are preferably made rounding at the ends of the tub, and which are hinged together at B, as shown. Each of these parts of the frame is provided with suitable folding legs 5 O and the braces D, which prevent the legs from closing up while the tub is being used. These legs are made to conform to the shape of the ends of the tub, so that when the legs are closed they will fit around the ends of the 4.0 tub in such a manner as to take up but very little room.

On the inner side of each part of the frame, at any suitable distance from its lower edge, is cut a recess or shoulder, as shown in Fig.

5 3, and under which shoulder the flexible material G, which forms the tub, is secured, and then inside of this turned-in edge of the material is secured a strap of leather or a strip of wood, I, or any suitable material, by means of which the flexible material can be held without any danger of its being torn or injured. This rabbet or shoulder'is just deep enough to allow the flexible material to come out flush with the inner sides of the parts of the frame, and thus prevent the material from being in the way along the edge whereitis fastened to the frame.

This flexible material may be made of rubber or any suitable water-proof flexible material, and this material is gored at the ends, as shown, or otherwise secured together, and thus the ends are formed without any wrinkles or gathers in the tub. In the top edge of this material, at the two points where the two parts of the frame are hinged together, there ,6 5 is just enough cut away to allow the frame to be readily folded up without tearing the material. This material forms a tub just deep enough to rest upon the floor, so that when the person steps into it his weight will rest upon the floor and not upon-the flexible material.

Secured to one side of the frame at any suitable point is a leather strap, 0, which extends across the frame, and is fastened at its loose end on the other side of the frame, and which strap raises up the flexible material at its center, so as to form, as it were, two separate and distinct baths. Two persons can then bathe in the same tub, and yet keep the water in each part separate from that in the other. I

This tub is specially intended for use by the bed-side of sick persons, and also in the household for baths of all kinds.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- The frame A,'made in two separate parts and hinged together at their. inner ends, in combination with a tub which is formed of flexible material and the hinged legs and 0 braces, the parts being arranged to operate substantially as described.

'In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this 27th day of May, 1880.

THOMAS MGKEE ARMSTRONG.

Witnesses J OHN BETTS, J AGKSON BoBIER. 

